Jake & Leon #370: Cosplay History

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against it. It’s just a little food for thought given how close we are to Independence Day.

Note that I’m not slamming this guy for cosplaying as Hamilton‘s take on King George III (and yes, this is based on a true story), but he is a real life historical bad guy, at least here in the US. It was his actions that led to the Revolutionary War, which we honor on Wednesday, and the War Of 1812, which we also fought in. I’m not in any way equating King George to Adolph Hitler. That’s just for the punchline. I just find it strange that this play makes dressing up as someone who forced his will on the colonies that became the United States Of America as if he was Darth Vader or Team Rocket a thing to do, enhanced by Independence Day being this week. It’s actually a good costume and it wasn’t even finished, but I’m not interested in the musical. I’m sure it’s good given the praise but it’s not my thing. Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark didn’t interest me even before I heard it was terrible.

In this week’s Clutter Report I lost the thing I needed for the intended project so I just filled in the holes in my comic collection. Not all of my lost items are due to clutter. It’s just the one I can deal with.

In the comic reviews I’m concluding Mega Morphs and the next series to examine is already selected. You’ll find out who that is next week. I also plan to have a Finally Watched, and the next installment of Free Comic Inside, plus more from my favorite Friday Night Fight entries. That should be over soon, and I have the replacement for that picked out too, but you’ll have to wait longer for that voyage. So while I try to survive a week of 90+ degree days in an attic that collects heat like I do comics…pray for me. And happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans. I hope to do something for that as well.

That kind of cosplay is more like historical reenactment. Historical reenactors and their events are very interesting to see. Whether it’s dressing up as somebody from the real past or as somebody or something from a cartoon, science fiction, comic book, or movie; cosplay and historical reenacting serve as ways for people to connect more deeply with their particular interests and also display their creativity and educate others (whether it’s about the American Revolution or Star Trek).